ABSTRACT
The northern tarai region (also called terai) of Nepal was densely forested and sparsely populated until the malaria eradication programme took effect in the 1960s. Since then, much of it has gradually been cleared and converted into agricultural land for the resettlement of the hill population. The harvesting of extremely high-value sal (Shorea robusta spp) forests for revenue has also been a major factor in the deforestation. There has been no systematic management of forests, and timber mafias conduct large-scale operations in the tarai.
The problem of the destruction of forests was gradually recognized during the 1980s; but there has been very limited political will to address this problem since it conflicts with the patronage politics of land allocation to hill migrants. The tarai has also seen extensive oppression of its tribal populations, including Tharu forest dwellers, by armed Department of Forests (DoF) staff, which has not entirely ceased. Community forestry (CF) has been partially implemented in some tarai areas along lines similar to those used in hill forests. However, the ambivalent attitude of the DoF to handing over these forests has led to ongoing institutional problems, which, as mentioned in previous chapters, primarily involve the exclusion of distant forest users; elite control of benefit flows; lack of organized livelihood support from participatory forest management (PFM) for poorer groups; the deteriorating condition of government-managed forests; government allocation of forests for infrastructure development; and security forces’ use of forests during the recent political conflict.
This chapter first considers the policy context, then assesses the implementation and impact of PFM in the tarai, and then looks at governance issues. Finally, it analyses the potentials and constraints of PFM in the tarai.
